Organizer system

BACKGROUND

p-00021. Field

p-0003This invention relates to cleaning organizers, and more particularly to an organizer system including a bag compartment.

p-00042. Description of the Related Art

p-0005With a plethora of kitchen and bathroom products on the market, organization of these products is increasingly necessary. Further, with many large households, people duplicate products throughout the many rooms, including bathrooms, kitchen, playroom, etc. Without duplicate products, people must carry all the products to the different rooms where they may be needed.

p-0006Further, many people re-use plastic grocery or shopping bags for small trash bags. These bags can end up in drawers or separate storage devices that are stationary.

p-0007The problem then arises from having to carry many products and bags throughout a person's dwelling or business.

SUMMARY

p-0008An organizer includes a front portion with a storage portion, a rear portion is connected to the front portion with a handle. A first side portion and a second portion are each connected to the front portion and the rear portion. The first side portion and the second side portion each include a number of slots. A bottom plate is connected to the front portion, the rear portion, the first side portion and the second side portion. The plurality of slots are each adapted to removably connect with a hook component.

p-0009Another embodiment presented is an organizer system including a front portion including a bag compartment, a rear portion is connected to the front portion with a hand grip and a first side portion and a second portion each connected to the front portion and the rear portion. The first side portion and the second side portion each including a number of slots each adapted to connect to a holder having a slide portion. The bag compartment includes an opening surrounded with a soft and flexible material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0010The embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the Figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

p-0011<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an organizer;

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a rear view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a top view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a left side view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a right side view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a bottom view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> illustrates a cut-away view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrates a front view of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>; and

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> illustrates a close-up view of a slide lock component o of the organizer illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

p-0020The invention generally relates to an organizer system. Referring to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described. The exemplary embodiments are provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

p-0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates an embodiment of an organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> having a rear or back wall portion <b>110</b>, a front portion <b>120</b>, right side wall portion <b>130</b> and a handle or grip portion <b>150</b>. When assembled, the components form a storage area <b>180</b> where various kitchen, bathroom, garage, etc. products can be stored. In one embodiment, right side wall portion <b>130</b> includes v-shaped slots <b>135</b>. One should note that while two v-shaped slots are illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, other embodiments can have more or less v-shaped slots <b>135</b>. In one embodiment handle <b>150</b> includes a handle core right portion, a handle core left portion and an over-molded portion.

p-0022In one embodiment, the over-molded portion of handle <b>150</b> includes a gripping portion. The gripping portion can be made with a ridge or raised texture throughout its length in order to accommodate a better gripping surface for a user. In another embodiment, the gripping portion includes a gripping material, such as rubber, foam rubber, silicon rubber, etc., that is coupled to the exterior surface of handle <b>150</b>. The gripping material provides additional gripping ease to a user, even when the gripping material is wet or is used with a cleaning solvent, such as liquid detergent. In these embodiments, the gripping portion can be indented or contoured to ergonomically fit to a user's hand.

p-0023In one embodiment, rear wall <b>110</b> includes a holder <b>160</b>. In one embodiment, holder <b>160</b> includes a number of channels or slots. Holder <b>160</b> is adapted to hold various items, such as sponges, soap, rags or dish cloths, etc. In one embodiment, holder <b>160</b> is integral with rear wall <b>110</b>. The channels or slots allow air to enter/leave for freshness and drying purposes and allows water to drain out. In other embodiments, holder <b>160</b> is removable from rear wall <b>110</b>. In embodiments where holder <b>160</b> is removable from rear wall <b>110</b>, holder <b>160</b> can be snapped in place, slid onto rear wall <b>110</b> or fastened by other known techniques.

p-0024In one embodiment, rear wall <b>110</b> includes many openings <b>170</b> that allow organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> to be fixed or removably fixed to a fixture, such as a wall, door, furnishing, etc. Therefore, organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can be fixed or portable.

p-0025As illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, front portion <b>120</b> includes a compartment <b>140</b> having a soft and smooth portion <b>145</b> that covers the perimeter of the opening of compartment <b>140</b>. Compartment <b>140</b> allows for storage of items, such as plastic grocery bags, cleaning cloths, etc. The soft and smooth portion allows a person to enter their hand into compartment <b>140</b> without the possibility of being scratched or injured, and without snagging or catching plastic bags on a hard edge. The narrow portion of the opening of compartment <b>140</b> allows items, such as plastic grocery bags, etc., to be held in place so that they do not fall out of compartment <b>140</b>.

p-0026<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a rear view of rear wall <b>110</b>. As illustrated, a hook portion <b>210</b> is inserted into a v-shaped slot <b>135</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a top view of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b>. Reference numeral <b>3</b> shows the center of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> from front portion <b>120</b> to rear wall <b>110</b>. Left side wall portion <b>310</b> is illustrated with hook portions <b>210</b> inserted into v-shaped slots <b>135</b>.

p-0027<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a left side view of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a left side view of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a bottom view with organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> lying on its rear wall <b>110</b>. Bottom <b>610</b> is illustrated with raised footing portions <b>620</b>. In one embodiment footing portions <b>620</b> have a rubber element inserted within footing portion <b>620</b> such that a portion remains outside of footing portions <b>620</b>. In this embodiment, footing portions <b>620</b> including the rubber element act to prevent movement of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> between foot portions <b>620</b> (and rubber elements) and a surface. In another embodiment, footing portions <b>620</b> are solid without a rubber element. Footing portions <b>620</b> can be made of any non-slip material suitable for a footing. In the above embodiments, footing portions <b>620</b> create a space between a solid surface and bottom <b>610</b>.

p-0028<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> illustrates a cut-away view of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b>. In one embodiment, once manufacturing is completed, the components are supplied assembled or disassembled, in which case they are be packaged in a disassembled form to be assembled by a user. The design and configuration of the components are made in a way that allows for packing the components into a smaller footprint package and gives the consumer the ability to assemble organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> themselves”

p-0029In one embodiment A method of assembling that allows the consumer to assemble organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> in a few steps. In this embodiment first handle sub-core and the Over-molded rubber handle <b>150</b> are positioned and secured into place via snap hook and pocket into the predetermined location onto rear wall <b>110</b>. Next bottom <b>610</b> is positioned into a slot. The slot is located in a predetermined position and corresponds with the length, width and depth of an insertion tab on bottom <b>610</b> when attached.

p-0030Next the user places front portion <b>120</b> with compartment <b>140</b> and aligns handle <b>150</b> sub-core and the bottom <b>610</b> within similar receptacles as on the aforementioned bottom <b>610</b> to secure front portion <b>120</b>. Then the user slides the side walls (<b>130</b> and <b>310</b>) into place engaging slide locks <b>900</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>) provided on rear wall <b>110</b> and the back of the pre-assembled front portion <b>120</b> including cavity <b>140</b>.

p-0031Next slide locks <b>900</b> are engaged, and the user then secures the side walls <b>130</b> and <b>310</b> by pushing them down towards bottom <b>610</b> and engaging the snap hooks that bind organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> together. Lastly, the user then places hook portions <b>210</b> in the available v-shaped slots <b>135</b> located on the side walls <b>130</b> and <b>310</b> to secure the hooks into the desired hook positions.

p-0032<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrates a front view of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b>.

p-0033In one embodiment organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> is manufactured using injection molded plastic. In one embodiment, handle <b>150</b> and soft and smooth portion <b>145</b> are made with a combination of TPR (thermal plastic rubber). The TPR is introduced as a co-molded aspect of handle <b>150</b> and soft and smooth portion <b>145</b>. In other embodiments, organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> is made of fiberglass, wood, metal, casting resin, epoxy resin, paper/cardboard, stone, concrete, ceramics.

p-0034Besides injection molding, in other embodiment organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> is made from other processes or techniques, such as lay-up molding (fiberglass), metal casting, metal machining, clay or ceramic casting (Slip casting), forging, high pressure paper or laminate forming, carving(wood), plastic sheet thermo-forming fabrication, resin casting (epoxy or urethane), injection molded plastic without TPR co-molded components, etc. The various components of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can each be made of different materials. It should also be noted that organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can be made by hand, use robotics or a combination of both.

p-0035It should also be noted that organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can be made in various sizes so that many different sized products may be stored in storage area <b>180</b>, e.g., cleaning products, paper towels, etc. The size of organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can be adapted depending on desired use organizer and storage unit <b>100</b>. Organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can also be sized to ergonomically fit users having a different hand or glove size, i.e. handle <b>150</b> can be varied in size.

p-0036<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> illustrates details of slide lock <b>900</b>. Slide lock <b>900</b> includes different portions of all the components that slide and lock together. In one embodiment, lower locking portion <b>910</b> and upper locking portion <b>930</b> complementarily fit middle locking portion <b>920</b> so that the various components are locked in place when assembled. The fitting of the different locking portions is such that the different locking portions snap into place. In one embodiment, a locking tab connected to middle locking portion <b>920</b> fits and locks into place middle locking portion and lower locking portion.

p-0037Organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> can fit in an aesthetic environment with ease and be functional and immediately accessible. Organizer and storage unit <b>100</b> makes it easy to move multiple items typically stored in separate areas (e.g., kitchen, rooms, bathrooms, garage, etc.) so that duplicate items are unnecessary.

p-0038In the description above, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known equivalent components and elements may be substituted in place of those described herein, and similarly, well-known equivalent techniques may be substituted in place of the particular techniques disclosed. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the understanding of this description.

p-0039Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

p-0040While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.